July 21, Aug. 4: Jupiter Quartet Brings Family Chemistry to Two Collaborations at Bowdoin International Music Festival
Photo of the Jupiter Quartet by Todd Rosenberg available in high resolution at https://www.jensenartists.com/artists-profiles/jupiter-string
Jupiter String Quartet Brings Family Chemistry
to Two Special Collaborations at Bowdoin International Music Festival
with Ying Quartet and pianist Jon Nakamatsu
Monday, July 21 at 7:30pm: Jupiter Quartet and Ying Quartet
Sold Out, Free Livestream Available
More Information
Monday, August 4 at 7:30pm: Jupiter Quartet and Pianist Jon Nakamatsu
Studzinski Recital Hall | 12 Campus Road S. | Brunswick, ME
Tickets and Information
Free Livestream for Both Performances: www.bowdoinfestival.org/festivalive
“an ensemble of eloquent intensity, has matured into one of the mainstays of the American chamber-music scene.” – The New Yorker
Brunswick, ME – The internationally esteemed Jupiter String Quartet, a uniquely intimate ensemble built around family bonds, will present two distinctive collaborative programs at the 2025 Bowdoin International Music Festival this summer. The quartet – featuring sisters Meg and Liz Freivogel (violin and viola), Meg’s husband Daniel McDonough (cello), and violinist Nelson Lee – brings their signature blend of technical excellence and familial chemistry to performances on July 21 and August 4.
July 21, 7:30pm: The Jupiter joins forces with longtime collaborators, the Ying Quartet, for an evening of large-scale chamber works including Richard Strauss's Sextet from Capriccio, Arnold Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht, and Antonín Dvořák's String Quintet No. 2. This performance is sold out, but will be livestreamed free at www.bowdoinfestival.org/festivalive.
August 4, 7:30pm: The quartet teams up with celebrated pianist Jon Nakamatsu for a program featuring Johannes Brahms's String Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Carlos Simon's Warmth from Other Suns, and César Franck's Piano Quintet in F Minor. Tickets and information: www.bowdoinfestival.org/event/jupiter-quartet-2025/
Both concerts take place at Studzinski Recital Hall, 12 Campus Road South, Brunswick, ME.
Since forming in 2001, the Jupiter String Quartet has turned their unique family dynamic into a musical strength. The personal connections that bind them – sisters who grew up making music together, a marriage that deepened musical partnership – create an intuitive ensemble communication that audiences consistently notice. Their performances exude an energy that feels friendly, knowledgeable, and adventurous, bringing their close-knit musical relationships to the stage.
The Jupiter Quartet has been a regular presence at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, where their collaborative spirit aligns perfectly with the Festival's mission of bringing together exceptional musicians from around the world. Their partnership with the Ying Quartet spans multiple Festival seasons, creating the kind of musical friendships that produce memorable performances.
“It is always an immense pleasure, and one of the highlights of our year, to return to the Bowdoin Festival music community, especially when we get to play with longtime friends and colleagues like Jon Nakamatsu and Phil and David Ying! The Festival has a uniquely enthusiastic and warm atmosphere, and we always come away feeling refreshed both musically and personally.”
More about the Jupiter String Quartet: The Jupiter String Quartet has performed in some of the world’s finest halls, including New York City’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, Boston’s Jordan Hall, Mexico City's Palacio de Bellas Artes, Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center and Library of Congress, Austria’s Esterhazy Palace, and Seoul’s Sejong Chamber Hall. Their major music festival appearances include the Aspen Music Festival and School, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, Rockport Music Festival, Music at Menlo, Tucson Winter Music Festival, the Seoul Spring Festival, and many others. In addition to their performing career, they have been artists-in-residence at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign since 2012, where they maintain private studios and direct the chamber music program.
Their chamber music honors and awards include the grand prizes in the Banff International String Quartet Competition and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition; the Young Concert Artists International auditions in New York City; the Cleveland Quartet Award from Chamber Music America; an Avery Fisher Career Grant; and a grant from the Fromm Foundation. From 2007-2010, they were in residence at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Two.
The quartet's latest album is a collaboration with the Jasper String Quartet (Marquis Classics, 2021), produced by Grammy-winner Judith Sherman. This collaborative album features the world premiere recording of Dan Visconti’s Eternal Breath, Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat, Op. 20, and Osvaldo Golijov’s Last Round. The quartet’s discography also includes numerous recordings on labels including Azica Records and Deutsche Grammophon.
The quartet chose its name because Jupiter was the most prominent planet in the night sky at the time of its formation and the astrological symbol for Jupiter resembles the number four.
For more information, visit www.jupiterquartet.com.
About the Bowdoin International Music Festival: The Bowdoin International Music Festival is one of the world’s premier music institutes. The Festival engages exceptional students and enthusiastic audiences through world-class education and performances. Each summer, 275 students from across the globe attend the Festival to study with distinguished faculty and guest artists, and the Festival presents 200 events, including concerts, masterclasses, composer lectures, and community programs. Over its 61-year history, the Festival has established itself as a vital force throughout the music world. The Festival is an independent non-profit organization. Learn more at bowdoinfestival.org.